...
Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as
The Resistanceand purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem
... the Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies...
hit back at Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
on Friday, saying it must "apologize to Leb" over the events of last week.
"Some were surprised when Saudi Arabia decided to call off the several billions' (military) grant to Leb, but in fact it was a chance for them (Saudis) to attack Leb and Hizbullah," said Qassem during a memorial service in Ghobeiri.
"Let it be known: for us Leb is the country of freedoms and it will remain so and it will never be subservient to any country on the face of Earth," he stressed.
"As Lebanese citizens, we want Leb for all the Lebanese and we want them to remain free with their heads held up high, not followers of any state. Leb will never become a Saudi emirate or an emirate for any country," Qassem underlined.
Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia extended sanctions on Hizbullah, freezing the assets of three Lebanese nationals and four companies over alleged ties to the party.
Riyadh has taken a series of measures against in recent days in response to verbal attacks from Hizbullah over the wars in Syria and Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
as well as recent diplomatic stances by Leb's foreign ministry.
The measures started last Friday when the Saudi foreign ministry announced that the kingdom was halting around $4 billion in military aid to the Lebanese army and security forces.
On Tuesday, the kingdom advised its citizens against travel to Leb and urged those already in the country to leave it, citing "safety" concerns. And on Thursday, media reports said around 90 Lebanese citizens have been fired from their jobs in Saudi Arabia.
Announcing the Saudi aid halt on Friday, an official said the kingdom had noticed "hostile Lebanese positions resulting from the stranglehold of Hizbullah on the state," while also accusing the party of "terrorist acts against Arab and Muslim nations."
"Thank God we have enough wisdom, strength, resistance, respect and vision that make others respect our will in being independent, not followers," said Qassem on Friday.
"We will express this stance no matter what the price might be, because we are defending righteousness and because those who want freedom and dignity do not accept any injustice," Hizbullah number two added.
"What happened during the last week requires Saudi Arabia to apologize to Leb, because it has insulted the Lebanese and those who exerted strenuous efforts to liberate their land and achieve their independence," Qassem went on to say.
The Saudi measures have sparked a storm of criticism in Leb against Hizbullah and its allies, amid demands for an apology from the Lebanese government. But Qassem emphasized Friday that "it was Saudi Arabia that aggressed against us."
"We did not aggress against it and we did not do anything that violates logic and the freedom of expression," Qassem added.
"All we did was that we described Saudi Arabia's actions. What can we say about Yemen? Are we supposed to say that the Saudi warplanes are firing missiles in order to feed the infants in their homes? Are we supposed to say that the artillery shells are entering hospitals to give oxygen to the patients?" Qassem wondered.